Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City presents draft five‑year TIP and a wave of active‑transportation plans; public comment windows set for April–May
Summary
City staff presented a draft five‑year Transportation Improvement Program and updates to pedestrian and bicycle planning funded by federal grants. A pedestrian-plan draft will be released April 7 (three-week comment period) and an all‑ages-and‑abilities bike‑network map on April 20; Safe Routes to School planning will produce 32 school plans and a district strategic plan.
City transportation staff outlined the draft five‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and a coordinated set of federally funded active‑transportation planning efforts at the March 18 commission meeting.
Chris Pedicowski, city engineering, reviewed the TIP tool and project categories, describing the GIS-based scoring approach that aggregates infrastructure, asset, equity and safety layers (water, storm, sanitary pipes, pavement condition, high-injury network, transit/bike/ped metrics). Staff said the TIP is fluid and subject to change as data layers and funding availability evolve.
Major projects and programs described by staff include reconstruct-program mileage slated for 2027, resurfacing and chip-seal packages, bridge deck and epoxy-coating maintenance, John Nolan Drive federal projects phased through the late 2020s, Mineral Point pavement work, and TAP-funded path projects including the Cap City trail and Morland path. Staff said some projects' schedules depend on utility work, jurisdictional transfers, and federal funding awards.
Kevin and other staff reviewed three federally funded planning efforts: a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)–funded pedestrian-plan update, an all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) bicycle-network map and a Safe Routes to School program (TAP and SS4A funds). Key findings presented for the pedestrian plan included:
- Citywide sidewalk coverage: about 65% of streets have sidewalks on both sides, roughly 22% lack sidewalks, and annexed/post‑war neighborhoods show gaps. - Trip potential: Replica data estimates roughly 15% of trips are on foot; analysis identified downtown and several surprising corridors (Westtown Mall area, South Park Street, parts of North Sherman and Stoton) with latent walking/biking potential. - Pedestrian crossing stress: staff mapped high-stress crossings and long gaps between low-stress crossings on arterials, noting consequences for access to schools and neighborhood destinations.
Staff will post the pedestrian draft for public review on April 7 and host a virtual public meeting; a draft AAA bike-network will be released April 20 with an interactive map; Safe Routes to School work will produce a district strategic plan plus 32 school-specific plans (two-page travel brochures plus short‑ and long‑term engineering recommendations). Staff said early engagement has included surveys, focus groups, tabling at community events and interviews with equity- and youth-focused constituencies.
Next steps: The commission was asked to review the drafts during public comment windows (pedestrian comment period through April 27; bike map through May 11) and provide feedback; staff plans to return later in summer for adoption and to fold prioritized school-related infrastructure into Safe Streets Madison scoring for implementation.
